Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 8:1-13. The author of Hebrews makes his point plainly: Christ is the high priest who serves as our minister in the holy places, seated at God’s right hand. The tabernacle given to Moses was intended to provide an earthly image of this heavenly reality. Because Jesus has obtained this ministry that is much more excellent than what was given to Moses, the old covenant is passing away. This is made plain by the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke ahead of time of the new covenant that the LORD would make with His people. Because Jesus has come, that new covenant is here. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faith

Rev. David Boisclair, interim pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 7:20-28. The author of Hebrews emphasizes the oath that God made in establishing Jesus as priest. This gives us absolute certainty that what God has guaranteed in Jesus, He will accomplish for us. Jesus excels beyond the priests in the line of Levi because He is risen from the dead and will never die again. Whereas there were numerous Levitical priests because they kept dying, Jesus lives forever to intercede for us before God. He does not need to make sacrifice for Himself daily, but He has offered Himself as our once for all sacrifice as our perfect high priests.  “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our e

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 7:11-19. The author of Hebrews proclaims that what the Levitical priesthood could not do, Jesus as a priest in the order of Melchizedek has done. If the Levitical priesthood had been capable of delivering us from sin and death, there would have been no need of another priest. Yet God has witnessed in Psalm 110 that Jesus is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, making Jesus not only a legitimate priest, but giving us a better hope by which we draw near to Him.  “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes on Him.

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 7:1-10. The author of Hebrews begins to expound more fully upon the importance that Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is mentioned in the Biblical narrative in Genesis 14 as both king and priest, though neither his genealogy nor his death is recorded. Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils of war to Melchizedek, and Melchizedek blessed Abraham. From this account, the author of Hebrews sets the stage to proclaim that Christ's priesthood in the order of Melchizedek is superior to the Levitical priesthood.  “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest wh

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 6:13-20. The author of Hebrews brings up Abraham particularly as one to imitate in faith and patience. Yet this example focuses less on Abraham’s actions and more on God’s promises. Not only did God make a promise to Abraham after He provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac, but God even swore an oath by Himself. God’s Word on its own is already entirely certain, yet for the sake of our continued encouragement to hold fast, He makes an oath to give His people double certainty that He will do all that He says. This gives us a firm anchor that will not fail, knowing that Jesus is our high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the So

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church—Friedheim, just outside Decatur, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 6:4-12. This text is a difficult one from the book of Hebrews. The author speaks about those who have received the fullness of God’s gifts in His Church, yet reject those gifts in apostasy. Because there is no other path to repentance, those who reject this one way to salvation cannot be saved. Yet the preacher is confident that his hearers will not fall away from the faith in this manner. He encourages them to continue in the earnestness of their hope and live with faith and patience as those who have God’s promise. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest wh

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 5:11-6:3. Before he expounds more fully on Jesus as a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, the author of Hebrews pauses to warn his hearers against dull hearing. He has continued to give them only the basics of faith, although he desires to build on that foundation and lead his congregation to all of the joyful truths of the doctrine that God teaches. As Christians, we never leave the basics behind, yet we always seek to be active hearers who dig more deeply into the Holy Scriptures to learn more and more of the wondrous truth God teaches. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 5:1-10. The author of Hebrews continues to help us rejoice that Jesus is our great high priest. In the Old Testament, the high priests were chosen from men for the sake of men. In their own weakness, they dealt gently with sinners, yet none of them chose the office for themselves; they were appointed by God. As God makes plain in Psalm 2 and Psalm 110, Jesus also was appointed by God to be our great high priest in the order of Melchizedek. God made Jesus our complete high priest through His suffering and death on the cross so that now Jesus is the source of our eternal salvation. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches, both in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 4:14-16. The author of Hebrews exhorts us to hold fast the confession of the Christian faith because Jesus is our great high priest. He has been tempted like us in every way, yet without sin, so that He sympathizes with us in our weakness. We approach Him with boldness and confidence, knowing that He will be merciful and gracious to us according to His promise. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes on Him.

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 4:1-13. The author of Hebrews continues to preach on Psalm 95 in this part of his sermon. He calls his congregation to a right fear of God, lest any fail to reach God’s promised rest. The rest that Joshua gave to Israel when they entered the Promised Land was incomplete. We enter into God’s rest only through faith in Christ. He is the one who speaks to us through the Word of God, which is a living, active, and sharp two-edged sword that brings us before the One to whom we must give account. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, and assistant to the president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 3:7-19. The author of Hebrews reminds his congregation what the Holy Spirit says to them in Psalm 95. As they come into God’s presence in the Divine Service, they dare not do so lightly. As unbelief attacked the people of Israel in the wilderness, so it would attack the congregation if they do not take care to hold onto the confidence they share in Christ. God has appointed “today” as the day to listen to His Word in faith, lest the deceitfulness of sin gradually harden the hearts of Christians. The Israelites wandering in the wilderness serve as the warning of those who failed to enter God’s rest; the preacher of Hebrews calls his congregation to receive rest from God who is present among them now so that they will have rest in His presence eternally. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 3:1-6. The author of Hebrews calls upon the congregation as his holy brothers to slow down and consider Jesus. He is the One sent by God to be their high priest. As God had appointed Moses to be faithful at His tabernacle where He lived among Israel, even more has the Father appointed Jesus to be the faithful Builder of His Church. Moses was faithful in God’s house as a steward. As the Christ, Jesus is greater than Moses by being faithful over God’s house as the Son. Holding fast to the confidence and hope that is ours in Christ, we are the household of God. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Pr

Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 2:5-18. Although it cannot always be seen that everything is in subjection to Jesus, the author of Hebrews assures the congregation that Jesus does, in fact, reign over all things as our ascended Brother. In our suffering, we see Jesus, the One who tasted death for us and brought our salvation to completion. Jesus shares in our flesh and blood in order to deliver us from Satan and sin. He is now our merciful and faithful High Priest who has made propitiation for our sins and now helps us in temptation. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 2:1-4. Having laid out the superiority of Jesus over the angels, the author of Hebrews now speaks of the necessity for his congregation and for himself of paying closer attention to the voice of God speaking to them. There is the danger of drifting away from God’s message of great salvation in His Son. That’s why the preacher calls his congregation to listen carefully to God’s Word attested, not only by witnesses, but the Holy Spirit Himself. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes on Him.

Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelmeier, teacher for Wittenberg Academy, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 1:5-14. The author of Hebrews quotes from seven Old Testament passages to teach his congregation that Jesus, the Son of God, is superior to the angels. He quotes these texts as the living voice of God spoken to the congregation. As they hear the Father’s voice speaking to the Son, they are being strengthened in faith toward Jesus as their only Savior. The angels are not exalted to this high position, but rather remain ministering spirits whom God sends for the sake of serving His saints. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes on Him.

Rev. Dr. John Kleinig, professor emeritus of Australian Lutheran Collge in Adelaide, South Australia, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 1:1-4. The anonymity of the author of Hebrews ends up reinforcing one of the primary points of the book. Understanding Hebrews more as a sermon for the Divine Service rather than as a letter, we see that the pastor doesn’t desire the congregation to hear his own voice. He wants the congregation to hear the voice of God Himself. Although God’s voice has spoken in a variety of ways through the prophets, now God speaks finally and completely in His Son, Jesus. It is to Jesus’ voice that the preacher directs his congregation’s attention, for Jesus is the exalted Son of God who is superior to the angels. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As t

Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor at Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Leviticus 27:1-34. Leviticus 27 may seem out of place, yet here the LORD teaches His people an appropriate response to the covenant that He is making with them. Their voluntary offerings will serve to support the work of God’s sanctuary, the place where He dwells among them so that they can receive His holiness to their blessing. The LORD’s regulations concerning His people’s vows allow for their willing generosity while also curbing potential sinful abuses. As the people of Israel make their vows, they learn to give to God not their last and least, but their first and best. “The Holiness of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Leviticus. Because God desired to dwell among His sinful people for their blessing rather than their destruction, He gave them the sacrifices and regulations of Leviticus to bestow His holiness upon them. In this way, the book of Leviticu

Rev. Joel Haak, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church and School in Fraser, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Leviticus 26:1-46. The LORD brings the book of Leviticus to a climax as He addresses Israel personally to teach them how He deals with them both in grace and wrath. The entire chapter is founded on the reality of the 1st Commandment: the LORD is Israel’s God, and Israel is His people. As they walk in His Word, they will receive the blessings of His holiness. However, when they refuse to listen to His Word, He warns them of the increasingly severe consequences they will face. Such judgment is brought about by God for the purpose of giving His land rest and calling His people back to Himself. “The Holiness of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Leviticus. Because God desired to dwell among His sinful people for their blessing rather than their destruction, He gave them the sacrifices and regulations of Leviticus to bestow His holiness upon them. In this way, the bo

Rev. Martin Dressler, pastor at Salem Lutheran Church in Blackjack, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Leviticus 25:1-55. As the LORD provides Sabbath rest for His people, so He provides Sabbath rest for His land. Every seventh year, the Israelites were to leave their land fallow, and the LORD promised that He would provide for them even more abundantly. The Year of Jubilee was the ultimate Sabbath rest for the land and people, as every fiftieth year all debts were to be forgiven and all property was to revert to the original owner. In providing these instructions, the LORD reminded His people that their entire lives depended upon Him and foreshadowed Jesus, who erases the debt of our sin and sets us free from slavery to the devil. “The Holiness of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Leviticus. Because God desired to dwell among His sinful people for their blessing rather than their destruction, He gave them the sacrifices and regulations of Leviticus to bestow His hol

Rev. Jeffrey Ries, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Leviticus 24:1-23. The LORD speaks to Moses concerning two furnishings in the tabernacle: the golden lampstand and the table for the bread of the presence. These proclaimed Christ as the light of the world and the bread of life. When a man who was a son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man blasphemed the name of the LORD, the people made sure that they dealt with him according to the LORD’s Word. The LORD revealed that such a curse bore the penalty of death, for to blaspheme God’s name was equal to seeking to take His life. The LORD gives the law of retaliation in order to make sure justice is done and limit the sinful desire for revenge. Christ is the One who has borne the curse of the Law for us sinners. “The Holiness of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Leviticus. Because God desired to dwell among His sinful people for their blessing rather than their destruction,